First Minister accuses Boris Johnson of 'betrayal' over partygate findings

First Minister Humza Yousaf has accused former prime minister Boris Johnson of “betraying” the entire nation by flouting Covid rules and then misleading the House of Commons.

Johnson stepped down as an MP last week after being given sight of a report from the House of Commons Committee of Privileges, which had been asked by MPs to investigate whether the now former member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip had misled the House and committed contempt.

That report was published today, with the committee finding that Johnson had deliberately misled parliament over the matter and concluding that that conduct was “deliberate” and amounted to a “serious contempt of the House”.

The committee said that, if Johnson was still a sitting MP, it would have recommended that he be suspended from parliament for 90 days. As he is not, it has recommended that he lose his entitlement to a parliamentary pass – a privilege normally extended to former MPs.

Speaking to journalists after First Minister’s Questions, Yousaf said it was “an extraordinarily dark day” with the affair representing “a dark chapter in Westminster’s history”.

“I'm thinking primarily, first and foremost, of all of those who lost a loved one during Covid - those who couldn't attend a funeral because of the restrictions in place, those who couldn't hold the hand of a loved one because of the restrictions,” he said.

“Boris Johnson has not just betrayed the House of Commons, but has betrayed every single person in this country.

“What I would say is that the Scottish Conservatives who backed Boris Johnson to the hilt, invited him to their party conference, they should not only apologise for that full backing that they gave Boris Johnson, but it's incumbent that if this report is brought to the House of Commons, when it's brought to the House of Commons, every single Scottish Conservative MP votes to sanction Boris Johnson.”

Though Johnson announced he was vacating his seat last week, it is not possible for an MP to resign, with members instead being appointed to a so-called office of profit until such time as a replacement is found.

Johnson was this week appointed steward and bailiff of the Three Hundreds of Chiltern, an unpaid role that carries no responsibilitiesand that  he will hold until a by-election is held in Uxbridge and South Ruislip.

The vote to replace Johnson is expected to take place next month. The report will be debated by MPs next week.